Re: 1988 5KSQ in Manhattan Won't Start

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher J. Ritchie <cjr1@gte.net>
To: quattro@coimbra.ans.net <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Friday, May 08, 1998 12:48 PM
Subject: 1988 5KSQ in Manhattan Won't Start


>Any recommendations for troubleshooting a "no start" condition for this
>car?  Any anomalies peculiar to this car for which I should check before
>the usual troubleshooting procedures?  The battery is good, and the starter
>cranks the engine over.  However, the engine won't catch - not even a cough
>or sputter.  The car has been sitting for 3 days in a very humid and wet
>atmosphere.  I tried cranking for about 3 hours (off and on).  The battery
>is getting weaker.  I won't try it again for awhile.  As you can tell from
>my description, I suspect electrical - no spark.  Is this car known for
>this condition?  The forecast here is for rain and humidity for the next
>few days.
>
>I am at a disadvantage here.  Away from home, no tools, no battery charger,
>no helper.  The car is on the street, and alternate side parking rules are
>in effect.  But I won't need to move the car now until Tuesday, May 12 at 8
>AM.  The NYPD is very insistent on this point.
>
>I might be able to scrounge up some basic tools and an inexperienced
>assistant.  But I won't have much of an opportunity to play around with a
>low battery, little or no tools, and no experience with this car (I am a
>new owner.).
>
>Where is a good place to start?  I will probably do the inside of the
>distributor and its cap and the spark plug wires with WD-40.
>
>Any recommendations on service near Manhattan's Upper East Side?  The
>Yellow Pages list an Audi dealer, Zumbach Motors, on West 54th.  The Yellow
>Pages also list a repair shop, Golf Auto Repair, one block from the car.
>They advertise that they specialize in Audis.
>
>Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

Christopher;

    Check for spark and fuel. A bad fuel pump check valve or a bad fuel pump
is a more common cause of no-start on these cars than high tension ignition
wiring, but cover all bases. Do you have normal compression (does the engine
turn over at normal speed and sound normal while turning over)?

Good luck!

Fred Munro
'91 200q  251k km